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Around 1,000 holiday scams were uncovered in Britain last year, costing holidaymakers more than £1.5million, according to a study carried out by the National Fraud Intelligence Bureau (NFIB).

The NFIB, which operates under the auspices of the City of London Police, says the figure is likely to be just “the tip of the iceberg.”

Some victims were left thousands of pounds out of pocket, while others were left stranded with no accommodation after using bogus websites, or falling for advertising, telephone or email scams.

Pete O’Doherty of the NFIB, told the Independent the situation was “particularly distressing” for those who have saved up for long periods of time. “Many are left devastated as they cannot afford another holiday,” he said.

The bureau has today issued a warning to the public about the risk of holiday booking fraud. The campaign, launched alongside the Association of British Travel Agents (ABTA), Get Safe Online and Action Fraud, highlights the increasing danger of being swindled.

According to the campaign, fake airline tickets were the most common booking scam, accounting for 45 per cent of all incidents reported to the police last year.

A third of the swindles reported were for holiday accommodation, with a particularly high percentage for properties in Spain and in London during the Olympics. The increasing number of self-catering villa rental sites advertising directly to the consumer has made this area a bigger common target for fraudsters.

Package holiday fraud and major events in long-haul destinations were also cited as targets for criminals. These included the pilgrimage to the Hajj and major sporting events such as The Ashes, where high demand can snare people into falling for false deals.

Holidaymakers are also warned to watch out when making visa applications, particularly the ESTA requirement for the US, which was identified as another potential area for swindlers.